Newlywed cyclists near end of journey

PORTSMOUTH — Newlyweds from Portsmouth who spent their honeymoon cycling across the U.S. will arrive home today after nearly two months on the road.

Brendan Flavin and Stefanie Carrabba Flavin, both 31, are due to arrive at Peirce Island at 12:30 p.m., where family, friends and coworkers will be waiting.

The couple will dip their tires into the sea and then lead a group ride to Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth, according to Brendan’s mother, Catherine Casey-Flavin.

The couple married on June 7 in Kittery, Maine. Nine days later, they departed from the Redhook Brewery outside Seattle for the nearly 3,000-mile trip. They documented their travels in a blog with pictures and descriptions from the road.

Along the way, the couple carried their gear on their backs and their bikes. They camped most nights, with some hostels and a few hotel stays. They pedaled through all sort of adversity, from nonplussed locals to leaking tires, lousy weather and bad directions.

“They traveled east hoping for good strong tailwinds, but I’m afraid they got more headwinds than tailwinds,” Casey-Flavin said, adding that the couple had plenty of good times, too.

Why start and end the tour at Redhook?

Casey-Flavin, of Eliot, Maine, said Brendan worked in marketing a Portsmouth firm that worked with Redhook. The couple also seems to like the beer: They held their rehearsal dinner there in June.

The cross-country tour raised money for multiple sclerosis, which affected the family of the couple’s longtime friend. So far, they have raised more than $1,800 but should surpass their $3,000 goal with late donations from friends and family, Casey-Flavin said.

Visit http://www.pedalingbs.com to learn more about the couple’s trip, view their photos or donate money.